Committee seeks government's policy on bringing back Maldivians stranded abroad

Parliament’s committee on national security and foreign relations has decided to inquire on the issues in bringing back Maldivians stranded abroad, along with other concerns.

While members of the committee met on Wednesday, they decided to further probe on the issues in bringing back Maldivians from abroad, as well as the conditions of prisons and the commotion that took place in Thilafushi island (Kaafu atoll) involving migrant workers.

The committee is seeking details of the government’s policies in providing assistance to Maldivians stranded abroad amid the ongoing pandemic and the work being done to bring them back home.

South-Mahchangolhi constituency MP Ahmed Haitham also requested to inquire on the particular case of a local stranded in Indonesia’s Bali and was not able to travel to Jakarta in time for a repatriation flight.

Noting that flights are scheduled ahead of time, Haitham stressed that the work to move Maldivians in other areas to Jakarta ‘should not be left till the last minute’.

Committee chair, Addu-Meedhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Shareef said that he was informed that the individual was unable to travel from Bali due to the lockdown imposed in the southeastern country. He added that those that traveled via the flight were employees of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and that their tickets were purchased by the company.

Shareef concluded the meeting by assuring the members that he will be proposing to question officials of relevant institutions, to inquire on their concerns.

MPs at the meeting also sought to analyze the current situation in prisons, as well as the commotion in Thilafushi involving migrant workers; seven workers are to have been arrested following a protest that erupted after disagreements with their sponsors.